Corey Jones was driving home 13 months ago after a gig with his church band
when his SUV broke down on a South Florida highway at nearly 2 a. Ian McCoshen
Panthers Jersey.m. Roughly 90 minutes later Jones was on the phone with
roadside assistance when a white cargo van pulled up in the dim light. A man
wearing blue jeans, sneakers, a tan T-shirt and a baseball cap got out.You
good? the man asked.Im good, Jones answered.Really?Yeah, Im good, Jones
repeated.Really?Yeah.The next sound on an audio recording of the phone call was
the man shouting: Get your f---ing hands up! Get your f---ing hands up!Hold on!
Jones said.Get your f---ing hands up! Drop! the man yelled before firing three
gunshots within two seconds.According to a report filed by the state attorneys
office, the man fired three more shots 10 seconds later -- only more
deliberately -- with one shot every three seconds.Jones, 31, died on the side
of that highway after being struck by three of the six bullets. His death
sparked local protests because the man who allegedly shot him, Nouman Raja, was
a plainclothes Palm Beach Gardens police officer who failed to show a badge or
identify himself as an officer. Raja was driving an unmarked van.Raja was
charged with manslaughter and attempted murder eight months later, but to date
there has been no trial and no closure for Jones family, which includes cousin
Anquan Boldin, a receiver with the Detroit Lions. Boldin would like answers for
not only his family, but all families who have experienced such a tragedy. Its
one reason he and four other NFL players have traveled to Capitol Hill on
Tuesday for meetings with a handful of congressmen, including Speaker of the
House Paul Ryan.No. 1, you want to hear that they hear you, Boldin told
ESPN.com. You want to make sure they understand the things that we, as an
African-American community, are going through. I dont think our community feels
that way right now, especially when it comes to law enforcement and the way
were being policed. Our neighborhoods are feeling hurt. No. 2, you want to see
changes in policy, in terms of how we train our police officers. And lastly,
you want to see accountability -- that justice will be served for all -- to
make sure that the relationship between the African-American community and
police can be better. Theres work to be done on both sides because theres a
huge mistrust there. I want to help close that gap.Boldin, the NFLs Walter
Payton Man of the Year in 2015 for his production on the field and his
community work off it, began contemplating the trip well before August, when
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started protesting police
brutality against people of color by sitting and subsequently kneeling, during
the national anthem.Boldin reached out to Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm
Jenkins, Lions safety Glover Quin?and quarterback Josh McCown and wideout
Andrew Hawkins?of the Cleveland Browns?-- all guys who are well respected in
the league and who have the same goal in mind as myself ?-- to join him. Each
said yes. Boldin did not reach out to Kaepernick because, he said, it would
have been tough logistically for Kaepernick to make the trip from the West
Coast. Also, Boldin didnt want the meetings to draw attention that could
negatively impact their desire to make positive change.For some players like
Hawkins, the issue is deeply personal. He thinks back to the November day two
years ago when 12-year-old Tamir Rice -- who was black -- was shot to death by
a police officer while playing with a toy gun on a Cleveland playground.
Hawkins reflects on how he couldve been Rice a decade earlier had his mother
allowed him to play with the toy gun he had gotten from a church giveaway for
kids.I thought the gun was the coolest thing ever, and my mom took it away, he
said. I asked why, and she said, Someone is going to think its real and shoot
you. I didnt understand it because all of my friends -- I went to a
predominantly white elementary school, Catholic school -- they all had BB guns
and would play with them all the time. I always thought it was so cool, but my
mom would tell me, You dont have that luxury. I didnt understand it as a kid,
but I do now. I have a son of my own.His mothers words came rushing back to him
when Rice was killed, just as they did three months earlier when John Crawford,
a 22-year-old black male, was fatally shot by police while holding a toy BB gun
rifle inside a Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio. Those killings prompted Hawkins to
wear a T-shirt that read Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford on the front
and The Real Battle for Ohio on the back before a December 2014 game against
the Cincinnati Bengals.It created a lot of controversy at the time, but its
something that was important to me then, and its important to me now, Hawkins
said. To be honest, it was probably the proudest moment that Ive had as a
professional athlete. ... We have a lot of power because were visible, and
there was a sense of responsibility that I felt I had because Im in a sport
where I might be the only person of color to get the opportunity to be on TV
and articulate how a lot of people of color feel about the situation. Thats not
a responsibility I take lightly, so it was important for me.What does he hope
to accomplish Tuesday?Im not a lawmaker, and I dont come from a background of
politics, Hawkins said. My expertise is in the communities that I grew up in,
the people that I know, the firsthand encounters that Ive had. Im just curious
to hear what our congressmen have to say, as people who are in charge of
government and who have that responsibility and power. I want to get the other
side of it. Going forward, this is more of a baseline than anything. Were
probably not having extensive meetings and sitting there and loosening our ties
and really getting down to business, so I dont know how much can be
accomplished or how much can be said. But its a first step and an important
step because you cant get to the next one without this one.The players are
scheduled to visit with Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), Rep. Keith Ellison
(D-Minn.) and Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), as well as with members of the
congressional black caucus. The meetings were arranged by Andrew Blejwas, an
associate director of marketing for the nonprofit The Nature Conservancy, who
since 2012 has been advising players like Boldin on how they can maximize their
off-field work. The NFL Players Association also worked to arrange possible
meetings with Speaker Ryan and some White House staff.No one is sure what will
come of the sessions, but the players are firm that theyd like to walk away
with something tangible, even if its an agreement to meet again for more
discussions on what actions can be taken to address the issues. While Boldin
and others want to be heard, McCown wants to listen.I dont believe we, as white
people, can understand what African-Americans go through on a daily basis,
because its different, McCown said. For me, first and foremost, I want to be
able to acknowledge that and say that our stories are different and our
histories are different, but lets just try to be a part of making it better
moving forward. Thats been my resolve -- starting in my family first, and in my
circle -- to be able to go, Im going to listen better and be better and be on
the side of good and good things to move forward. But what does that look like?
To me, it looks like justice and standing with your friends for whats right. So
many times in this situation it feels like you cant be for law enforcement and
for Black Lives Matter. Theres such a stark line that you have to be on one
side or the other. Im trying to process that and understand. Why cant you be
for both? I want the message to be that we can be for both. I dont know if
thats possible, but thats where my heart is.McCown said he began to understand
the issue?after police shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. He
said he began to read and listen more intently to what was going on around the
country. The stories resonated even more during offseason bible-study meetings
each Thursday with former and active players. Many of the participants were
black and shared personal stories of how they or family members had been
mistreated by law enforcement.Youre listening to what theyve gone through, and
I call it a weighted vest, McCown said. That probably doesnt do it justice, but
I was like, Man, they do live with a weighted vest on. Its not the same race we
[whites] are running here. It began to change my perspective.Boldins goal is to
raise awareness and create positive change. His commitment is even stronger
following the contentious presidential election.It makes me even more
passionate because I see a country thats hurting, Boldin said. I see so much
divide, to the point that I dont think weve ever been at this point in my
lifetime. Has there always been racism? Of course. Has police brutality always
been there? Of course. You name it, and its been there. But at this point, it
just seems to be so brazen.When you hear about the things that are happening on
college campuses, high school campuses, even elementary school campuses, its
mind-blowing. This is the type of stuff I didnt have growing up, where you have
young kids just being blatantly racist. Theres a huge divide in our country
now, and if we dont find a way to heal it, things are only going to get worse.
I dont want to bring my kids up in a country like that. I dont think any of us
do. Weve got to do some work. And we cant leave it to politicians and the
government alone. We have to make a difference. If we dont, were doomed. Keith
Yandle Jersey. Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has
won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and
nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third
period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the
crease on the right side. Colton Sceviour Panthers Jersey.Y. -- Marcell Dareus
and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe
Flacco.
http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/vincent-trocheck-hockey-jersey/.C.
-- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker
was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. MINNEAPOLIS -- Cool as their
unflappable head coach, Brad Stevens, the Boston Celtics never got down even as
their deficit ballooned against the young and athletic Minnesota
Timberwolves.When the Celtics finally got going, the Wolves tensed up once
again and let another big lead get away.Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points and
Boston rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the
Timberwolves 99-93 on Monday night.Al Horford added 20 points, six rebounds and
five assists for the Celtics, who trailed 81-68 after three. Boston opened the
fourth on a 17-0 run to take the lead and held on down the stretch for its
second straight win.I think give us credit for playing a little harder than
them and making them think a little more and getting them uncomfortable, Thomas
said.Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
Gorgui Dieng added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but Andrew Wiggins was just 5 for
18 and Minnesota scored three points in the first 9 minutes of the fourth.We
laid a damn egg, said Zach LaVine, who was 4 of 12 from the field and 0 for 7
on 3-pointers.Terry Rozier added a career-high 12 points off the bench and
keyed the Celtics surge in the first 6 minutes of the fourth.The Timberwolves
have normally reserved their meltdowns this season for the third quarter, when
they have the NBAs worst point differential. But they won that period 29-26 on
Monday night, just the second time this season they have outscored their
opponent in the third.Jonas Jerebko and Rozier opened the fourth with
3-pointers, and Rozier added another long ball and a steal and dunk to push the
Celtics in front.Towns was the only player who scored for the Wolves in the
first 11 minutes of the fourth quarter, converting a three-point play with 5:18
to go for their first bucket and hitting a 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining.Boston
outscored Minnesota 31-12 in the fourth as the Timberwolves shot 5 for 25.They
were definitely pressing, Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. Guys were into guys,
we were making everything hard. You could definitely tell they were pressingg
to find a great shot. Keith Yandle Panthers Jersey. The Wolves outscored Boston
58-34 in the paint and outrebounded the Celtics 51-39, including 16-6 on the
offensive glass. But Minnesota missed eight free throws.I think we have to play
tougher with a lead, coach Tom Thibodeau said. And the big thing for us is to
improve and learn.TIP-INSCeltics: Horford also had three blocks and reached 20
points for the first time with the Celtics. ... Boston was issued a rare delay
of game warning coming out of a timeout late in the third quarter. ... Jerebko
was a plus-20 in under 19 minutes.Timberwolves: Minnesota entered the game
leading the NBA in 3-point shooting, but was 4 for 24. ... Towns has blocked a
shot in 20 straight games. ... F Brandon Rush was active after missing the
previous seven games with a sore big toe on his right foot. He played 2 minutes
in the fourth quarter.TEMPERS FLAREOne of the biggest guys on the court and the
smallest got into it in the third quarter when the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Dieng
leveled the 5-9, 185-pound Thomas with a screen. Dieng was called for an
offensive foul because he was moving while he set the screen, and Thomas took
exception. The All-Star guard got up and shoved Dieng, and the two exchanged
words while being separated by teammates.It was the heat of the battle, Thomas
said. We talked about it after, and he loves my game, I love his, so were
good.CROWDER AILINGJae Crowder missed eight games with a sprained left ankle
before returning on Saturday against Detroit. He made life difficult on
Wiggins, who was 0 for 5 from 3-point range. But Crowder had to leave the game
in the third quarter because of soreness in that left ankle and did not
return.Hopefully hell be OK, Stevens said.UP NEXTCeltics: Boston wraps up a
three-game road trip in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.Timberwolves: Minnesota
starts a three-game trip with a game at New Orleans on Wednesday night in which
Towns will face fellow Kentucky big man Anthony Davis. ' ' '